Apparantly people keep asking the same questions without searching. Thos post can be used as a "read first before posting questions" FAQ for FFXII.

I'll start. to add, post a reply

Q: In the Bestiary, what does the "need" count mean?A: The number is the number of the certain monster left to kill before you learn more about it, meaning more information will show up in the monster's biography.

Q: How do I get to/beat certain Espers, need help with a hunt, am stuck at a particular point in the game, what are teh materials for this special bazaar trade item-and where can i get them?

A: Visit the following site--it will help you with all these things and more. Note the author wrote this for the Japanese version and 99.9% of everythign is still the same except names but the names of particular things are soo close to each other that you can guess what it mean on the english version. (Eg. Distance Attack= Telekenesis)........

Q: Where can I buy Teleport Stones?A: Take a ride on an airship, merchants there sell them.

Q: Where can I buy ________ spell / technick / weapon / etc?A: New equipment, magicks, and tecknicks become available in shops as you progress in the story.

Q: What do battle chains do?A: You recieve a higher chain the more you kill one type of monster one after another (without visiting a village / town or save point, etc). They drop "bags" that give more items, cast magicks on the party, or drop equipment that is above average. The highest possible is 999, but you only need around 100 to see the full effect of chaining.

Q: Why use one weapon-type over another? (Hammer, Mace, Sword, etc)A: Some weapons use other elements other than strength to have attack power. Some are faster, some have more critical-hit chance, or combo chance. Some raise MP or magick power, etc. For a full list of what does what, visit a guide.

Q: Should I keep all 6 characters around the same level?A: Until around level 40 this is a good idea. You can switch party members in and out during boss fights, and its also very helpful when you want to use multiple mist charge technicks (quickenings, summoning, etc). After the 40's area, start focusing on one main 3-man party to get stronger.

Q: How much EXP is needed to reach level 99?A: 13,741,129

Q: How much LP is needed to fill the License Board?A: 13,180 (an extra 1,705 if you count quickenings and espers)

Q: Do I have to buy Magicks and Technicks for each individual character?A: No, once you buy any Magick or Technick from a merchant, all your characters who have the correct license for them are now able to use them.

Q: How come my First Aid always misses?A: It is for critical recovery only, when your character's Health is in the red.

Q: How does Charge work, exactly?A: Wait until your MP is very low, and it will regain mana (not sure what exact formula to base this off of, but try only using it when your MP is below 20%)

Q: What are the Greens used for, are they loot trash?A: They can be used to rogue chocobos to ride them.

Q: Help! My character seems to be stuck with status effects, such as Silence, or Reflect! Is my game bugged?A: Check the character's equipment, some armor an accessories give permanent status effects when worn. Some can also cause your MP to be at zero as long as you're wearing the item.

Q: Whats a good way to get money at any level?A: Steal is your firend. Use it in every battle. You'll start to notice which monsters have higher cost loot, especially when you steal a piece of equipment.

SPOILER SECTION!

Q: How do I defeat the first Demon Wall inside King Raithwalls tomb?A: The best method is to have your characters at a level above 25, all of them. have them all have at least one quickening. Use one 3-man party use the biggest chain of Quickenings possible as soon as the first starts. Then, once that's done, as soon as you're able to, switch the party members out and use a second Quickenings combo with the other 3 characters. Do the biggest chain you can. You'll need a bit of luck, you'll need to hit some high combos with the Quickenings on him. Hopefully after the Quickenings you can use some high hitters to take out the rest of his health with weapons. try not to cast Cure, or do anything but melee. if someone dies, just switch em out.

Q: What do I get for killing the first demon wall?A: check the wall where he started. After killing the second demon wall, you'll be able to hit this switch, making a few new paths come available to you. Eaither way you go, it'll will bring you to the same destination. At the end there is a chance for a chest to show up, if the chest shows up, there is a chance for a powerful sword called the Demonsbane to be inside. To make sure you get the sword, save outside once the demon walls are defeated. If you don't get the Demonsbane, reload your game and try again. This might take longer than expected, tookme over a couple hours of trying.

Q: How do I obtain a Sandalwood Chop? All I have are Pinewood Chops, the taxi guy won't let me through, wtf?A: There are Chopmasters in each shop in Archades, located on the second floor. trade your Pinewoods for a Sandalwood there.

Q: How do I get to/beat certain Espers, need help with a hunt, am stuck at a particular point in the game, what are teh materials for this special bazaar trade item-and where can i get them?

A: Visit the following site--it will help you with all these things and more. Note the author wrote this for the Japanese version and 99.9% of everythign is still the same except names but the names of particular things are soo close to each other that you can guess what it mean on the english version. (Eg. Distance Attack= Telekenesis)........

I'm actually glad to hear that there is a 2nd spear. As I learned about how to get this spear long after I had already opened many of the chests I was not supposed to open. Guess I will have to work on this 2nd spear when the time comes; Iím still working on some of the other top weapons at the moment. (Freaking Dorsal Fins, I hate those fish)

I figured this one out after a mistake and a lot of banging my head on the wall.

Q: I left Balfonheim, Archades, Nalbina, etc. before activating the Teleport Crystal! How do I get back?

A: You can travel to locations on foot but to save yourself some time and hassle you can spend some Gil travelling to different Aerodomes via air ship and looking for one with an attendant for the area you need.

I'd known there were attendants but after leaving Balfonheim, the place I was at (Nalbina, I think.) didn't have someone at the Balfonheim counter! I freaked, to say the least. lol After a bit of a run around I found counter help for Balfonheim in Rabanastre.

Q: This area/boss/Mark is kicking my trash! People tell me to level up more, but how much more?

A: Along the main storyline it is unlikely that the game will throw you into anything that's overly powerful. You are likely only a few levels behind. Play it safe and set a goal five levels above your current. Are you level 15? Come take another crack at the boss only once you reach level 20. Still didn't kill him? Come back at 25.

At the very worst this will lead to overkill, and that's not bad now, is it?

Marks and optional bosses can be much different, as you can wander into optional areas sometimes 20 levels above your current! Have Libra or a Bangle and check the monster level. Come back when you're within three levels of it. (Is the monster level 60? Come back when you're 57+)

wOOt, nice thread, I hope people read this , yay my thread is included XD

Oh you should do

Q: What level should I be at ______?A: If you can progress through the game without any difficulty, you're fine, if you're losing lots of HP from monsters, or if they're tough to beat, you should level up and grind a bit. There is no 'exact' level you should be anywhere, whatever you think is the right level for that area. Also, if you want to be like exact, when you face monsters, they have a level next to their name, you want to be a bit higher than that.